Hi all, I hope you haven't all given up on me! The wrist I thought was just broken turned out to need surgery and I have spent the last month or so not being about to type so I could not update. I am grateful for all of your continued support and I will finish this story, just a little more slowly than I thought. I just hope that some of you are still reading it. To my new readers, hello and thank you! Notre Dame fan don't worry Chris will meet Sophia, just not in a way that you will see coming hopefully. I love you guys and please review if you are still reading!

Chapter 53

The next days pasted in a relative calm. The council had North moved to a secure location where his sentencing and execution would take place but the entire compound still felt like it was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sarah had been slightly less skittish, coming out of her room for meals and talking to Isaac oddly enough. Lydia had suggested he talk to her because she knew that they shared a similar history and that Isaac had an overwhelming ability to make you feel comforted and not judged. The two had formed a tentative friendship and he had pulled out of her shell a bit. The tension in the compound combined with the looming full moon tonight had everyone on edge, so Derek had suggested that the pack run drill to relieve some of that nervous energy.

As Lydia sat under a tree with Isabel enjoying the late June sunshine she watched the pack, including Sarah train, she let out a sigh—she was actually content for the moment. She knew that they still had to deal with Nathan and his pack, they had to find and disband the Alpha pack and they had to figure out their next step—could they go home?—but for this one moment, with her daughter playing on the blanket beside her and her pack tussling in the field in front of her, she was happy. Smiling, she leaned against the tree, rubbing her hands over her belly as her son wiggled like he wanted to train with the pack also. Giggling, she tapped his foot, "Soon enough little one, soon enough."

Noticing a movement out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Carolyn, Nathan's wife standing awkwardly in the shadows of the house, leaning forward she locked eyes with the older woman and gestured her forward, "Carolyn right?" She asked, "Please, join me."

Reluctantly the thin woman with light brown hair joined her, "Hi, I know we have not formally met but I am Lydia," Lydia stuck her hand out as Carolyn reached the blanket she was sitting on.

"Carolyn," she whispered awkwardly tugging at her shirt, when she made no moved, Lydia said, "Please have a seat."

Once Carolyn was seated, her back oddly rigid and her body language tense Lydia continues, "Look, I know that there have been issues with our husbands and that you have a very different pack structure than we do, but you don't have to be nervous around me, I don't blame you and I am not here to judge you. I don't know you but I would like to try to."

After a moment the brunette offered her a slight smile, "Okay, I would like to try too, I just, I guess," she stammered, "Well I guess I don't know anybody else and Sarah has joined your pack and I am sure Emma will as well, but they were never really friendly with me. Actually," she looked down, "Nathan preferred I didn't spend much time with the betas."

"Well, we all probably spend too much time together so," Lydia joked trying to lighten the mood. She sent Derek a smile when he quirked an eyebrow at her new companion as he tussled with Jade and watched the pack train.

"Your pack is closer than any pack I have ever seen, you're like," she searched for the word.

"We're family." Lydia finished for her.
"Exactly, you are always laughing and giggling and touching and the noises from your rooms, I just," at that Lydia blushed a bit, "Yeah I guess we are a bit loud."

"Well yeah, but is that normal?"

"Sex?" She raised her eyebrow and she saw Derek and Erica choke a bit clueing her in to the fact that they were both listening to her conversation.

"Well," now it was Carolyn's turn to blush, "It's just you do it all the time, all of you. Are you all trying to breed."

"Whoa, wow, um we all," Lydia stammers a bit trying to find the right wording, "You really only have sex with your husband for breeding purposes?"

"Well yeah, that is what sex is for."

"I guess that is one view, but it also a lot of fun and obviously we have no problem breeding," Lydia joked, resting one hand on her belly and the other on Isabel's head where the little girl was climbing on her mother's lap. A dark look passed over Carolyn's face at her comment and Lydia quickly said, "I'm so sorry Carolyn, I wasn't thinking, I,"

"No," Carolyn cut her off with a wistful smile, "It is fine, it is actually a good thing that I didn't have children with Nathan, he would be a horrible father."

"Maybe, and I am sure you will get your chance, don't worry," Lydia squeezed her arm in support before laughing at Isabel and she crawled after a ladybug, "Whoa there babygirl, you need to stay put," Lydia picked up the baby and plopped her on her lap causing Isabel to giggle and clap her hands squealing "Mama!"

"That's right mama," She lifted the baby and blow raspberries on her tummy causing another fit of giggles.

"She is beautiful, your little girl," Carolyn whispered watching the young mother and daughter.

"Yeah she is. They are both pretty amazing," She smiles at Jade who has taken off running after Erica and Scott.

Derek joined to two women as the pack broke for a water break, "Hey baby," he kissed Lydia's head as he sat down picking up Isabel and kissing the baby's dark head as well. He was rewarded with a bright baby smile and a cry of "Dada!"

"Hey baby how are my girls doing over here?" He asked brightly as his eyes settled on Carolyn for a moment.

"We," Lydia leaned forward to pull a leaf out of his hair while Isabel played with his fingers, "are perfect. It is a beautiful day, my family is all here and I am hanging out with my new friend Carolyn so all is well. Now you just need to tire Jade out so she will take a nap today and all will be well."

"I am trying but that child has stamina," He smiled as he leaned back and rested him head on her lap, Isabel still sitting on his chest.

"Don't know where she gets that from," Lydia smirked and he smirked back. Realizing that their flirting was making Carolyn uncomfortable Derek tilted his head and pressed a kiss to Lydia's belly, "He is busy today too I see."

Rubbing her hand over the top of her extended belly she smiled, "Yeah I think he wants to train too."
"Sorry little man you are just going to have to wait a while, you are not finished cooking yet," Derek spoke softly to her belly.

"Yeah, I think the moon is just getting to him," Lydia continued her rubbing motions.

"You can feel the pull of the moon?" Carolyn asked shocked.

Tilting her head, Lydia answered, "Well kind of, when I am pregnant I can but I don't know that it is me feeling it or if it is the baby responding to the moon and I feel it because the baby is a wolf and does."

"I didn't think a human could do that," Carolyn said without any malicious just genuinely intrigued.

"Yeah, Allison had it to when she was pregnant too," Lydia nodded.

"That is interesting," Carolyn nodded and the two women continued chatting for a few minutes. Once the pack had reassembled and Jade had joined her mom on the blanket Derek stood and kissed Lydia and the girls before moving to leave. Seeing her daddy move away from her, Isabel cried out, "Dada!" and reached her arms for him. Without a thought Derek swooped down and lifted the baby from the blanket and settled her against his chest as he began drilling the pack in earnest. Even through her father's harsh commands, Isabel never flinched, just snuggled in closer to her dad, watching the butterflies and ladybugs in fascination as the pack attacked one another.

Looking to the young redhead Carolyn whispered, "He is a good father."

Smiling as she ran her fingers through Jade's hair Lydia nodded, "Yes he is. He is a great father and husband and Alpha."

Grabbing her free hand suddenly Carolyn whispered, "He should be pack master, he is worthy of it. Nathan is not, Nathan just want t rule to pack so that he can right some sort of wrong he feels was done to his father. He wants to change things to support North's vision because he has no vision of his own. He is weak and cruel and I think that he is planning something." The desperation in Carolyn's words and her grip scared Lydia. She nodded cautiously unable to respond, luckily the pack had noticed this and they had surrounded the two women.

"Carolyn, you don't need to worry about whatever Nathan is planning, we have overcome stronger and come out standing." Scott lowers himself between the two women, wrapping his hand around Carolyn's where it still gripped his sister's arm.

"He is crazy and he wants you all dead," she cries, "He thinks that you have polluted the bloodline with the humans and that you will lead the council to abandon the traditional ways."

"Well that is a debate for another day, but Carolyn you are family and you are under our protection, you don't need to fear him anymore," Derek assured her as he helps Lydia to her feet, still holding Isabel. "Now, let's all distress a bit and get something to eat, we all need to rest up for tonight." Everyone agreed and ate a quick lunch before retiring to their bedrooms for the afternoon. Allison looked restless as she laid Sophia down after feeding her, "Allison, what's wrong?" Scott asks wrapping his arms around her waist, stopping her fidgeting.

Sighing she pressed her forehead to his chest, breathing in his scent for a moment before looking up as him, "I don't know, I just, I have got a bad feeling about this whole Nathan thing."

Running his hands down her back he pulls her closer, kissing her head, "What are you worried about? Nathan is locked up in the council's dungeon, North is dead and they will try Nathan soon for his part in all this. We will be okay." Taking a deep breath she wraps her arms around him, "I hope you're right, but I just can't shake this feeling." Nodding Scott nuzzled into her neck, placing gentle kisses along her collar bone. Giggling she pulled him into a kiss, "Are you trying to distract me?" she asked as he bit her earlobe. "Maybe," he chuckled pulling her shirt over her head and kissing down the tops of her breast.

"Is it working?" he mumbles into her flesh as his unhooks her bra.

Giggling again she answered, "Maybe," as she pulled his bare torso flush to hers and began reaching for the basketball shorts he wore to train in. Squealing as he lifted her by the waist and tossed her on the bed pulling her Capri yoga pants and panties from her body and moving his hands up her legs, pulling her hips toward him, "Ah uh," Allison put a hand on his chest to stop him. Looking at her like she just told him Santa wasn't real, "What, what do you mean?"

"Condom Scott," she raised her eyebrows, "I'm not pregnant anymore and I don't plan on getting that way again. So, condom."

Freezing for a second Scott looks around like a condom will magically appear, looking down at his dick, fully at attention and obviously getting more blood flow than his brain currently, he seemed confused. After a few moments Allison lets out a laugh and rolls to her right, opening the bedside table and pulling out a condom she opens it and leaning forward she rolls it on him, kissing him as he moans into the movement.

Pulling her up to him so that their chest were pressed together, "Everything is going to be alright Allison," he promised her as she sank down his length, moaning as her body stretched to encase him. They made love slowly, languidly, as if they were just enjoying each other and not trying desperately to distract themselves from a potential threat.

As they lay in their bed afterward, sweat cooling and sleep setting in, the thought accord to Allison that their entire relationship had been just that—waiting out the next threat, looking for the next attack. For some that would be the reason that they should go running in the opposite direction from each other—that fate didn't want them together—but what those people could see is that through it all—the hunters, the Alpha's, the Kanima, her crazy ass family, hell even a teenage pregnancy—she and Scott still loved each other and supported each other. All of their trials had lead to this—Allison being happier than she had ever been and her beautiful daughter and this beautiful man. Maybe he was right; maybe it was all going to be okay. Snuggling deeper into Scott's arms Allison allowed herself to relax and give over to her exhaustion.

Across the hall Derek exited the shower to find Lydia deep in thought on their bed, her legs crossed Indian style under her. Slipping into a pair of basketball shorts he crawled up the bed, kissing her head before sitting in front of her, "Okay, what is going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

Holding his eyes for a moment she sighed, "Carolyn is right. Nathan is up to something. We know that there are at least twelve more Alphas out there that were answering to North and even though he is dead they are not disbanded and now they are rudderless and more dangerous than ever. If they want to break Nathan out, they will."

Nodding Derek processed what she was saying, "True, the council is chasing the rough Alphas and Nathan is locked up but there are no assurances. Tomorrow I will speak with the council; it may be time to move again."

Sighing in frustration, Lydia runs her hands through her hair, "I am so tired of this."

Looking down, Derek rested his hands on his thighs, "Lydia, I am so sorry that you have gotten dragged into all of this. My family's problems, my problems shouldn't ruin your life. I know that you hate running and you need to know that I will let you go if you want to. Go home and live a normal life, I will never blame you,"

She cut him off with a swift slap to the face. Finally looking at her, this time with shock as he cradled his cheek, "What the hell?"

"What the hell is right dumbass? How dare you start that "woe is me, I ruined your life" bullshit again. Derek I'm pregnant," her eyes were wide as she gestured to her belly, "With a furry little werewolf pup. Your furry little werewolf pup! I cannot, nor do I want to escape this life. The only way this ends is with us together and our kids safe. Nathan and these crazy ass Alphas went after me and my kids, this is personal to me way beyond some generations old beef that your family has. You try this "give me up" shit again and I will stab you in your sleep!"

Looking at her in shock for a moment before he burst out laughing may have not been the best course of action, but Derek couldn't help it, "Yes ma'am." He laughed kissing her. "Please forgive me ma'am."

"Yeah, just don't be stupid again," she kissed him again, sliding over his lap so that she was straddling him, taking his face in her hands, she spoke directly to him, "Derek I love you, I love our kids and I love our pack. I am not going anywhere. Ever. This too shall pass." Kissing him again she giggled as the baby moved between them, "See he agrees."

"I guess I can't argue with that," Kissing her again, Lydia yawned and he chuckled, "I am not sure what is more insulting—the mortal threats or the yawning—I am totally losing my touch."

"No, your touch is fine, but your son is tiring my out," she yawned again as Derek rearranged them on the bed so that she was snuggled against his side. They both soon drifted off to sleep.

Later that night after the pack had all had dinner and the kids were tucked into their beds, Lydia, Allison and Stiles stood in the front yard bidding the pack goodbye for the evening. "Okay, so let me get this straight you guys are split into teams of four and you are tracking prey?" Stiles asked as he rested his hands on Erica's hips, kissing her between words. "Uh huh," she nodded, both of them delaying their separation.

"Hey Romeo and Juliet, can we get this show on the road, the two of you can make goo goo eyes in the morning," Jackson snapped marching towards the woods where everyone else was waiting. The whole pack chuckled as Stiles yelled back, "Stuff it Jackson, we all know you are just cranky because you have the world's longest running case of blue balls." Shaking her head, Erica kissed her boyfriend once more before trotting off to the words, pairing off with her group.

As the humans returned to the house they settled down on Derek and Lydia's bed to watch a movie and hang out like they did every full moon. Half way through the movie Stiles turned to Allison and asked, "Hey, have you ever thought about it, you know, taking the bite, becoming one of them?"

Considering it for a moment, Allison shook her head, "I have, before Sophia, but with the chance that it won't work that I could die, it is just not worth it. I like being human, I like being me and while sometimes I wonder what it would be like to see the world like Scott does, like my daughter will, I just, I don't want to risk it."

Nodding at her explanation, "Yeah, I get that, but I am going to be honest, I have been tempted. Peter offered it to me, but I wasn't ready and I didn't want it then, but it would be cool to be like Erica."

Chuckling Lydia threw an arm around his shoulders, "Stiles, I think Erica loves you just the way you are, no change needed."

"Yeah," he grinned, "I think she likes me."

"Just maybe," and with that they went back to watching their movie. Just after midnight there is a loud bang from somewhere deep in the house and the sound of several growls and a scuffle. Jumping into action, Allison arms herself with her knives and bow and tosses several firearms at Stiles, tucking a few into her own clothes. Turning to Lydia who was staring at the two with wide, panicked eyes, she hands her two pistols. "Do you know how to use these?" The huntress asks.

"Yeah, I think I can figure it out." The Alpha female responds, "I am going to get my girls and put them where it is safe."

Nodding, Allison says, "I am going to get Sophia, I will bring her to you and then I will see what is going on. Stiles, you take the front hallway, I will take the back." They all nod and move out. As soon as Allison steps into her bedroom she hears a voice she had hoped to never hear again, "Well, well, well if it isn't the hunter. Who is going to save you now Allison?"

Turning she catches blue eyes, "Why are you here Nathan?"

"To kill you of course," He state nonchalantly.